Abstract

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of
normal and high-cholesterol/fat diet supplemented with 5 and 10% freeze-dried red seaweed, Gracilaria changii powder on rat organs (liver, kidney and heart), lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzyme activities. The results showed that feeding with atherogenic diet alone caused lipid peroxidation which eventually leads to oxidative stress of the rat’s organs. Nevertheless, with 10 % G. changii supplementation, it significantly decreased the liver lipid peroxidation by 52.24 %, and the antioxidant enzyme activities were significantly increased by 52.09 to 94.42 %. Similarly, with G. changii supplementation, it significantly enhanced the kidney antioxidant enzyme activities. This
suggests that G. changii suppress oxidative stress and protect the rats’ organs. In conclusion, G. changii could be a promising functional food ingredient in the management of
hyperlipidaemia.